CAMPUS MATTERS
May 2014 The newsletter for Campus Services
IN THIS ISSUE
CAMPUS SERVICES LIVE 2014! The end of April saw 150 mem- synopsis of their greatest bers of Campus Services staff achievements over the past year. gather in the Windsor Building for our annual “Live” event. “I was very impressed by the amount of work that went into After a brief introduction from the presentations and how the Senior Management Team imaginative each team had been. thanking everyone for all their Choosing an overall winner has hard work in what had been a been very difficult”, said Deputy successful, but challenging past Registrar, Laura Gibbs. 12 months, the focus shifted to each operational team who were The conference team were tasked with presenting their best crowned eventual winners for the memory from 2013/4. diversity of everything they had achieved. Colleagues from Central Services and The Store had both written Successes ranged from accomoriginal poems about the modating over 3500 conference pantomime, while the Catering delegates, catering for 1400 wedteam focussed on their fantastic ding guests and serving 1000 teas Hub Street Food Festival held last and coffees at every open day, to summer. welcoming some famous visitors including Kenneth Branagh and Unable to choose just one event the cast from Downtown Abbey, from a busy and successful year, surviving the hottest graduation teams from Maintenance, ceremonies on record and celeConferences and Premises all brating their best ever year for chose to present an informative sales.
0% waste to landfill Our new waste contract means that we now send absolutely no waste to landfill! Find out more on page 4.
Chefs achieve success Hard work pays off for proud Award winners Ravi and Darren. Read about their success on page 3.
JIM LAWLESS Next up was leading inspirational speaker Jim Lawless who imparted his “10 Rules for Taming Tigers”.
Amongst other things, he encouraged us to move beyond our comfort zone and “Do something scary every day”; Jim explained the concept of realise that the people around the “Tiger” as being the voice us are there to help and finally, that lurks within all of us and to “Never, never give up”. stops us from making the Jim has proved that his theories necessary decisions to get to really do work. He has risked his where we really want to in life. life, firstly by transforming himself from unfit, overweight consultant who had never ridden a horse, to jockey in less than 12 months and subsequently by breaking the British free diving depth record by reaching a depth of over 100m on a single breath of air. The afternoon was rounded off with a BBQ in The Hub, served by the Senior Management Team.
The 10 rules for taming tigers 1. Act boldly today – time is limited! 2. Re-write your rulebook – challenge it hourly. 3. Head in the direction of where you want to arrive, every day. 4. It’s all in the mind. 5. The tools for Taming Tigers are all around you. 6. There is no safety in numbers. 7. Do something scary every day. 8. Understand and control your time to create change. 9. Create disciplines – do the basics brilliantly. 10. Never, never give up!
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you missed the event and would like to hear Jim’s presentation, you can download it at www.jimlawless.com quoting code roy230414.
NEW LOOK ONLINE STORE Many of you will already be aware that our ing our sale items as well as many new lines: Store on Campus will be relocating to http://onlinestore.rhul.ac.uk/browse/ temporary premises as the building of the new department.asp?compid=1&modid=1&deptid=65 library gets underway. With this in mind, the presence of The Online Store has been enhanced, with a new look homepage, simplified navigation and photographs of our students wearing Royal Holloway branded clothing. If you haven’t visited our online store recently to view the fantastic range of Royal Holloway gifts, now is the time to do it! You can find everything from branded clothing and books to stationery, kitchenware and much more. Follow this link to go to the home page where you can browse the full range of Royal Holloway merchandise, includ-
Ravi and Darren scoop TUCO Award! Last month saw the staging of the annual TUCO skills competitions in Blackpool, showcasing the culinary skills of the most talented people in the university catering sector.
Although Cambridge University were the successful cooking team this year, I know Darren, Ravi and the other chefs have this prize in their sights for next year”.
Catering staff from 22 different universities across the UK were invited to enter their teams of two into The Chefs' Challenge Team Event, where competitors were given a mystery box of ingredients, from which they were to cook a threecourse meal for two. Winners were chosen by both experts and catering professionals over the two day event.
While our Chefs were wowing the judges with their culinary prowess, Coffee and Cake expert Angela Cook, was competing against 25 other entrants in the Barista Challenge Competition.
Angela Award winners Ravi and Darren Congratulations go to both Ravi Kanthiya and Darren Coventry who were the eventual winners of The Best Hygiene and Safety Practices Award. Head of Conferences and Catering Mike Hoare said “It is marvellous to see our kitchen team regain a prize last won by Royal Holloway in 2009. The level of skill and talent was extremely high.
Ravi
Darren
Each competitor was given just 15 minutes to produce four espressos, four cappuccinos and four speciality espresso-based drinks. Despite cutting her finger during the prep time, which meant Angela had to wear the regulation blue plaster to match her shirt, she was undeterred and went on to explain her techniques, methodologies and sheer wizardry at the coffee machine to the panel of judges. Angela’s speciality drink was called ‘Easter Coffee’ in which she was able to reflect the flavours of a hot cross bun in a hot drink!
Rubbish Reduction This week saw the start of a new waste contract signed with Veolia Environmental Services, which brings the management and disposal of all of the College’s waste streams together and ensures that no waste is sent to landfill.
The catering team began food segregation earlier this week and this will be followed by a phased introduction to the remainder of the Campus during the summer.
Over the next 12 months the Premises Team and This is a significant step forward in our sustainable Veolia will be working with the College to improve vision and commitment to helping the environ- facilities for recycling and provide advice and ment. guidance on what to do with the waste we all Historically, the College’s general waste, which produce. accounted for approximately two thirds of the total generated waste, was sent for disposal at a landfill site. Under the terms of the new contract, it will be sent to an Energy Recovery Facility for Incineration plant for all of our waste incineration to create energy. The residual ash will be treated FOR MORE INFORMATION and used in road To find out more about how to recycle or construction. dispose of waste please visit our page on iQuad The new contract also sees the introduction of https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/iquad/services/ food waste segregation for disposal through an- campusservices/recyclingandwastedisposal.aspx aerobic digestion. This will generate energy in the form of biogas and organic soil conditioner.
Volunteering with “Love Your Campus” is a great way to take a small break from your desk and enjoy the surroundings of our lovely campus.
and clothing and your enthusiasm – all other equipment is provided. Many thanks to those who helped remove the old shrubs and accumulated litter from around the Bourne Annexe last month and to those who helped at Penrose Court earlier this week.
Our students have been a fantastic support to our gardening team this year, so now that they are busy revising for exams, it’s time for the staff to get involved! On 28th-29th May, staff will have the opportunity to plant the Victorian Flower beds just in front of Founder’s Building. Feel free to turn up anytime between 10am-12pm or from 1.30-3.30pm each day. Please don’t worry if you can’t spare a full two hours away from your desk - we would love to see you for as much or as little time as you can spare! All you need to bring is appropriate shoes
FOR MORE INFORMATION To register your interest, please follow us on Facebook or email: loveyourcampus@royalholloway.ac.uk.
STAR ATHLETES SHINE College Alumnae Bonita Norris and Sophie Awards including the Principal’s Cup for Team of Christensen were the hosts at this year's the Year, won by the American Football team. Student Talented Athletes' Recognition Scheme (STARS) annual presentation. Congratulations go to all of the other winners of Introduced by Professor Paul Layzell, both the evening who were: athletes shared their insights into what it took to Natasha Green, Coach of the Year, Alex Reillybe the greatest in their chosen sports: Bonita, the Cooper, Frank Grimes Cup winner, Grace Lawes, Tom Smallbone and Hannah Peters for College youngest person ever to have stood at both “tops of the world” – the summit of Mount Everest and Caps, Marissa Lowe, Sportswoman of the Year, the North Pole and Sophie, four times Paralympic Tom Smallbone, Sportsman of the Year and the Cheerleaders who scooped Club of the Year. gold medalist. The STARS were awarded their scholarships and guests were invited to hear about their sporting achievements, their ambitions for the future and how the College is supporting them. The evening closed with a fencing demonstration and a networking reception, including a Silent Auction which raised £1200 for the college’s The event culminated with the Ian Stewart, Vice President, Student Activities being honoured with Sports Development Fund. a special award for being the first Sports Later the same week saw a crowd of over 600 Sabbatical Officer to be re-elected and to students and staff gather for the annual Colours acknowledge his outstanding contribution to Ball. Vice Principal, Bob O’Keefe presented the sport over the past 2 years.
YOU SAID…… WE DID! This term saw the introduction of two new products in Imagine. Our students told us they’d love to see a late opening café on campus, so we've brought Starbucks coffee to Imagine, and have extended the opening hours from 11am until midnight, Monday to Saturday. Not forgetting the tea lovers amongst you, you’ll be pleased to learn that you can also buy Pearls Bubble Tea Monday to Saturday at Imagine, from 11am until 7pm.
Welcome to….. ….. Charlotte Hall who recently joined the Conferences and Catering team as Internal Hospitality and Wedding Co-ordinator. Charlotte brings a wealth of experience having previously worked as a wedding co-ordinator overseas. She is truly passionate about weddings and is committed to making each bride’s day at Royal Holloway as special as possible. Also new to the team is Adam Brine, Deputy Banqueting Manager. Adam brings years of experience with him from both hotels and conference venues, including Beaumont House in the UK as well as in the US and South Africa.
A PERSONAL TOUCH FROM THE FITNESS TEAM After the introduction of personal training this year at the Sports Centre, the Fitness Team are continuing to grow their client list and help them reach their individual goals. Three members of the Fitness Team are qualified Personal Trainers: Fitness Manager, Anthony, Fitness professional, Hayley and Student Fitness Instructor Carl. They currently have 10 members who attend regular one on one sessions with them in the gym and are all reaping the rewards of working with these experienced personal trainers on a regular basis.
‘I really love my job. Who could not love a job that gives so much in return? I am on my feet all day teaching people what I know best, how to exercise Hayley Munt safely and effectively and how to make it an enjoyable experience, instead of a chore. I see so many people achieve their goals and with that comes increased confidence and self-esteem. I just point my clients in the right direction and give them guidance, but it is them who put in the hard work and make the change’, she says.
Sophie, who works in the admissions team in Huntersdale, has been working with Hayley since the beginning of the New Year. Personal training is open to all staff members at ‘"I enjoy the sessions immensely. Not only has very competitive rates. You can have sessions on Hayley been able to start changing my body your own or with a friend! shape, which was my main goal, but she has also SUMMER MEMBERSHIP OFFER given me the confidence to go and work out in the gym and try new things. It's nice to have a trainer Make the most of our summer special gym who can not only push you to do your best but membership offer, available to all staff. make you want to change your lifestyle choices 3 months membership for the price of 2! and take the steps to becoming healthier! " Just £50 for 3 months full access to the gym and Hayley has over 10 year experience in the industry exercise classes. and is a real asset to the sports centre. She says helping clients is one of the main reasons she Visit our website for more information or drop us an email at sportscentre@rhul.ac.uk. enjoys in her role.
PREYING ON PIGEONS As part of a bird control initiative, a bird of prey was invited to fly around Founder’s last month, in an effort to deter pigeons from roosting in the building. The principle behind the initiative was for a Falcon to fly every day for a week to instill fear into the pigeons so that they abandon their roosting site and learn not to return. How successful has it been? “There were no signs of any pigeons while the Falcon was on Campus”, commented Compliance and Asbestos Manager, Stephan Scheiner. “Unfortunately, pigeons are highly intelligent birds, so we will have to wait and see if they return now that the Falcon is no longer around”.